Clam-dredge



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PATBNTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

J. H. HALL.

GLAM DREDGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1904.

NO MODEL- Witnma No. 770,367. PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

J. H. HALL. GLAM DREDGE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 1904.

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51 11 new ['01 Witvwoom No. 770,367- PATENTED SEPT. 20, 1904.

' J. H. HALL.

SLAM DREDGE APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 31, 1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented September 20, 1904.

PATENT OrErcE.

CLAlVl-DREDGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 770,367, dated September 20, 1904.

Application filed March 31, 1904. Serial No. 200,980. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be itknown that I, J AOOB H. HALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Martin, in the county of Weakley and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clam-Dredges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention provides a machine of novel construction for use in gathering clams, oysters, mussels, and bivalves and for greatly facilitating the work and lessening the labor and doing away with the many disagreeable features peculiar to this industry.

The invention consists of a diggerto run over the bed containing the mussels for collooting and gathering them, a conveyer for delivering the mussels at the determined point of discharge, and means for directing the bivalves from the digger to the conveyer.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are susceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a top plan view of a clam-dredge embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof on the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is'a cross-section on the line Y Y of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the frame of the digger, the clearer, elevating-drum, and guard being omitted. Fig. 5 is a view of the digger and a portion of the conveyer as seen when inverted. Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the dredge conneoted to a boat, the intermediate portion of the conveyer or elevator being broken away. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the front cross-piece of the framework, showing more clearly the beveled portions between the teeth. Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the guard provided at the lower end of the conveyer.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all theviews of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The framework of the digger comprises side pieces 1 and cross-pieces 2, 3, and 4. Bars 5 extend rearward from the side pieces 1 and in line therewith and are weighted at their rear ends by means of the cross-bar 6, which is of metal of suflicient mass to hold the machine to its work and cause it to run steady. The cross-bar 6 besides acting as a counterweight also forms a brace, by means of which the side members of the frame are strengthened and connected. The teeth 7 for engaging with and lifting the bivalves or mussels are longitudinally disposed and are secured near their front ends to the crosspiece 3 and at their rear ends to the crosspiece 4. These teeth are adapted to lie approximately horizontal when the dredge is in operation, and their front ends are pointed and incline upwardly and rearwardly, so as to elevate the bivalves when detached from the bed. The cross-pieces 3 and 4 are in different horizontal planes, and extensions 8, projected from the upper rear portions of the teeth 7, overlap the cross-piece 4 and are secured thereto, thereby leaving the lower rear ends of the teeth free, so as to glide over the bed without collecting mud or other matter, which would tend to materially increase the draft of the machine. The forward edge of the cross-piece 3 is beveled to a sharp edge between the teeth, so as to ofier a minimum amount of resistance to the advance of the dredge when the machine is in operation.

7 An elevating-drum 9 is located directly above the teeth 7 and is journaled to the side pieces 1 and is provided with a series of rows of teeth 10, which are arranged to sweep through the space formed between the teeth 7, so as to remove any bivalves lodging thereon and carry the same rearward, upward, and forward. The elevating-drum is positively driven, so that its lower portion moves rearward and the upper portion forward. This elevating-drum may be of any size and construction, according to the capacity and finish of the machine,

and the teeth 10 may be fitted thereto in any substantial way. 7

A guard 11 encircles the upper, rear, and lower portions of the elevating-drum and is spaced therefrom a distance to insure ample passage for the bivalves in their travel from the teeth 7 to the point of discharge for delivery to the conveyer. This guard may be of sheet metal or composed of a plurality of rods or bars and presents the appearance of a grate and is curved so as to extend around the elevating-drum and conform approximately thereto. The guard is secured at its lower portion to the teeth 7 and at its upper portion to the cross-piece 2, and the slots or spaces separating the elements correspond in number and position with the teeth 10, so as to admit of said teeth sweeping through the spaces, so as to positively advance the bivalves to the conveyer. The forward portion of the guard is slightly flexible, so as to yield, thereby preventing binding or jamming of mussels between it and the elevating-drum.

A clearer is located forward of the guard 11 and comprises a cross-bar 12 and teeth 13, the latter extending upward and rearward from the cross-bar and resting lightly upon the elevating-drum and underlapping the bars or spaced members comprising the guard 11. The cross-bar 12 is journaled at its ends to the side pieces 1, thereby admitting of the teeth 13 adapting themselves to any play of theelevating-drum or inequalities in the surface thereof. The teeth 13 are arranged to operate in the spaces formed between the teeth 10, and their upper rear ends are tapered to prevent the formation of projecting parts,which would tend to obstruct the advance of the mussels. Guides 1 1 are arranged in advance of the clearer and serve to direct the bivalves onto the conveyer. These guides have upwardly and rearwardly diverged arms 15, which extend across the end portions of the clearer and serve to move in bivalves delivered thereon between the guides and prevent the loss thereof. The arms 15 besides acting as deflectors also provide means of support for the guides 14 and connection thereof to the side pieces 1. The guides 14 are further supported by tubes 16, extended inward from the side pieces 1. The tubes 16 are connected to the side pieces 1 in any substantial manner and project laterally therefrom in opposite directions and constitute bearings for a shaft 17, as well as serving as a support and connecting means between the conveyer and the digger. The shaft 17 is extended at one end and provided with a sprocket-wheel 18, which is connected by sprocket-chain 19 with a corresponding sprocket-wheel 20, secured to the journal or shaft of the elevating-drum 9. Hounds 21 are bifurcated or forked at their ends and embrace the side pieces 1 and are mounted upon the tubes 16, thereby relieving the shaft 17 of the draft exerted for drawing the digger over the bed.

The conveyer is preferably of sectional formation, the parts or sections being articulated to admit of various adjustments to meet different conditions as to depth of the water and nature of the bed-surface. The conveyer comprises a frame 22 and an endless carrier 23, the latter consisting of companion chains and cross-pieces. The frame 22 consists of side pieces and a connecting board or plate forming a support over which the bivalves are moved by the cross-pieces of the carrier. Sprocket-wheels 24: are secured to the shaft 17 and support the lower end of the carrierchains, and the latter pass over other sprocketwheels 25, secured to shaft 26, to which power is applied for operating the carrier and the elevating-drum, the latter receiving motion from the shaft 17 through the gearing 18, 19, and 20. The conveyer-frame 22 is mounted at its lower end upon the shaft 17 and is rigidly connected to the hounds 21, thereby relieving said shaft of the major portion of the weight and strain.

A guard 27 is provided at the lower end of the conveyer to extend over the shaft 17 and sprocket-wheels 24 and to prevent the formation of a space between the conveyer and the clearer and elevating-drum for the escape of the bivalves after they have been delivered to the conveyer from the clearer. This guard 27 consists of a plate which is transversely curved between its front and rear edges and teeth ,28, secured to the plate and extended forward thereof and curved downward, so as to approach close to the carrier, the crosspieces' of which are notched to admit of freely passing by the lower forward ends of the teeth 28. The plate 27 is curved so as to conform approximately to the curvature of the carrier and to approach close thereto, whereby a compact structure is formed.

In the operation of the dredge the latter is connected to a boat, float, or the like at 29, and the digger is lowered into the water, so as to move over the bed, and as the machine is advanced any mussels in the path of the digger are lifted by means of the teeth 7 and glide thereover until engaged by the teeth 10 of the elevating-drum, when they are carried rearward, upward, and forward and are removed from the elevating-drum by means of the clearer and are directed thereby onto the conveyer, which delivers them into the boat or other receptacle provided for their reception.

A shaft 30 is journaled in bearings of the boat 29 and is connected by belt 31 to any suitable source of power for operating the dredge. Tubes 32 are fitted to posts 33 and receive the shaft 30 and also have the frame 22 mounted thereon, thereby relieving the shaft 30 of the strain incident to dragging the dredge when in operation. The endless carrier 23 derives its motion from the shaft 30, its side chains passing around sprocketwheels fitted to said shaft.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In a dredge of the character described, the combination of the framework provided with digging and elevating mechanisms, tubes projected laterally from the side pieces of said framework, a shaft mounted in said tubes and geared to the aforesaid elevating mechanism, and a conveyer connected to said framework through the instrumentality of the tubes,

substantially as set forth.

2. In a dredge of the character described, the combination of a framework provided with digging and elevating mechanisms, tubes extended laterally from the side pieces of said framework, a shaft mounted in said tubes and connected with the elevating mechanism, hounds mounted upon said tubes, and a conveyer connected to said hounds and mounted coaxially with said shaft and tubes and adapted to impart movement to the aforesaid shaft, substantially as described.

3. In a dredge of the character described, the combination of a framework provided with digging and elevating mechanisms, bars projected rearward therefrom, and a counterweight connecting the rear ends of said bars for steadying the machine and holding it to its work when in operation, substantially as specified.

4. In a dredge, the combination of a framework provided with digging and elevating mechanisms, a conveyer connected to said framework, guides at the sides of the lower end of the conveyer, and upwardly and rearwardly diverged deflectors extended from the rear portions of said guides, substantially as set forth.

5. In a dredge of the character described, the combination of a framework provided with digging and elevating mechanisms, a transverse shaft, a conveyer connected to said framework and mounted to turn coaxially with said shaft, guides at the sides of the conveyer and supported by means of the aforesaid shaft, and arms extended from the rear ends of said guides and upwardly and rearwardly diverged, substantially as described.

6. In a dredge, the combination of teeth for lifting the mussels from the bed, a toothed elevating-drum arranged above said teeth, a guard embracing the upper, rear and lower portions of the elevating-drum and comprising spaced portions, the teeth of the elevating-drum being arranged to operate in the spaces formed between the lifting-teeth and the separated parts of said guard, a clearer for removing the mussels from the elevatingdrum, and a conveyer for directing the mussels to the point of discharge, substantially as described.

7. In a dredge, the combination of teeth for lifting the mussels from the bed, a toothed elevatingdrum arranged above said teeth, a guard embracing the upper, rear and lower portions of the elevating-drum and comprising spaced portions, a clearer comprising teeth underlapping the forward portion of said guard, and a conveyer for receiving the mussels from the clearer and directing them to the required point of discharge, substantially as set forth.

8. In a dredge, the combination of teeth for lifting the mussels from the bed, a toothed elevating drum arranged above said teeth, a guard embracing the upper, rear and lower portions of the elevating-drum and comprising spaced portions, a clearer loosely connected to the framework and having teeth to rest upon the elevating-drum and underlapping the forward portion of the aforementioned guard, and a conveyer for directing the mussels to the required point of discharge, substantially as specified.

9. In a dredge of the character described, the combination of side pieces, front and rear cross-pieces in different planes, and longitudinal teeth secured to said cross-pieces, the forward cross-piece having the portions coming between the teeth beveled to an edge and said teeth having upper rear extensions overlapping the rear cross-piece and secured thereto, substantially as set forth.

10. In a dredge of the character described, the combination with the framework provided with digging and elevating mechanisms, a transverse shaft, a conveyer mounted coaxially with said shaft, and a guard applied to the lower end of the conveyer and extending over said shaft and comprising a plate and teeth which are curved in conformity to the lower end of'said conveyer, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JACOB H. HALL. [L. 8.]

Witnesses:

M. A. HALL, J. D. MILSEN. 

